Are you hiding a gummy smile?

Laser Gum Lift Cairns

Do you feel you show too much gum when you smile?

At Future Dental, we have helped many patients that suffered from a gummy smile and who can now smile whole heartedly without worrying about the appearance of their smile.

A gummy smile occurs when:

The teeth look very short (apart from shortening through wear and bruxism) and with a flat gum line.

Where the jaw bone and gum over the top is very prominent.

Certain medications can also cause gum overgrowth like Dilantin for Epilepsy.

Hyperactivity of that particular facial muscle that lifts the lip.

In those cases where the facial muscle that elevates the top lip is too strong, a simple injection of the same muscle relaxant we use for other cosmetic treatments is given on each side. This reduces the pull on that muscle and allows the lip to sit more naturally over the teeth and eliminates the gummy smile for probably four months or so.

During this treatment, a muscle relaxant is injected into the overactive muscles, reducing the elevation of the upper lip and creating a beautiful, more symmetrical smile. This is a virtually painless procedure that can be undertaken in around 10 minutes, and patients can return to normal activity immediately.

Regrettably this procedure may need to be done a number of times over a year or more to tone that muscle down. Occasionally we also need to combine this treatment with the laser gum lift procedure to achieve optimal results.

Laser Gum Lift

Before laser dentistry, treating a gummy smile could be a painful procedure that involved stitches and a lengthy recovery. Thanks to laser gingivoplasty, Future Dental can reduce your gummy smile and allow normal full-length teeth to be shown – and the whole operation can happen under a local anaesthetic. Crowns or veneers are used often with this treatment to create that beautiful smile.

Laser gum contouring is a virtually pain-free treatment that uses a (Unique Dual Action Soft and Hard Tissue ErCrYSGG) Laser to remove excess gum tissue. This procedure is highly effective as the laser re-seals the soft tissue of the mouth almost immediately; creating a bloodless procedure that heals within a few days.

If the line of the gums over your front teeth is not symmetrical, sometimes just a small gum lift over individual teeth can make a big difference to your smile. A local anaesthetic is used and the procedure is done quickly with no bleeding after and usually with no discomfort. Within a few days, you can have your crowns or veneers prepared if you require them.

As with any cosmetic dental treatment it is important that you maintain good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups. Not only will regular check-ups be good for your overall oral health but Dr Gibbins can ensure that your gums have healed properly.